William and Kate Support Southport Schools After Knife Attack

The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, visited two schools in Southport on March 15, 2024, to support families affected by a tragic knife attack last year. Their visit focused on the communities of children who lost their lives, specifically Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King, during a dance class themed around pop star Taylor Swift.

The royal couple first met privately with the parents of Elsie, who was just seven years old when she was murdered, before attending Churchtown Primary School, where Alice and Bebe were enrolled. During the visit, William and Kate toured a newly constructed playground dedicated to the memory of the girls, a project that emerged from a community fundraising campaign.

In front of around 700 pupils, William remarked on the significance of the playground, stating, “This playground is a symbol of how the community have come together to create such a positive space for the pupils of this school, a symbol of remembrance and resilience, a testament that love will always overcome tragedy.” He praised the efforts of educators at both schools for their exceptional support to the students during a profoundly challenging time.

He also addressed the grieving parents, saying, “To Alex and Sergio, Lauren and Ben, Jenni and David – you are parents united in grief. You have faced such horror, but from that you move forward with grace and fortitude, creating the most remarkable legacies for your girls. We will always be here to support you.”

At Farnborough Road School, where Elsie was a pupil, the couple spent over an hour engaging with students and staff. They listened to children discuss their art projects, which expressed their emotions related to the attack. Kate complimented their ability to articulate difficult feelings through creativity, saying, “It’s very unusual for young people to be able to express bad and hard and difficult emotions like you’ve done, and actually doing it through art is really clever, but really expressive.”

The headteachers of both schools expressed gratitude for the royal couple’s presence during what has been a “tremendously stressful” year for the community. Jennie Sephton, head of the infants’ school, noted that the visit had made a significant difference in the school environment.

Upon their arrival, the couple was welcomed by hundreds of excited children waving union flags. The surprise visit had been kept secret until shortly before their arrival, leaving many students thrilled. Ten-year-old Ellis Paynter exclaimed, “We were shocked! I was like, ‘We get to talk to the prince?’” Another student, Jessica Hazelhurst, also ten, added, “All of the teachers didn’t get to find out until break time. We all came into school thinking we were getting photos for school council, but then it was this.”

This visit marks the second time that William and Kate have traveled to Southport since the attack. Their first visit occurred in October 2023, when they met the families of the victims and expressed their condolences. During that occasion, they also thanked the emergency services who responded to the incident.

The royal couple’s efforts highlight not only their support for the affected families but also the broader community’s resilience in the face of tragedy.